Chhath Puja is an auspicious Hindu festival celebrated wholeheartedly in several Indian states. The festival will begin on November 17 and will end on November 20
The AAP on Thursday said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has prepared a 10-point plan to ensure smooth conduct of this year's Chhath Puja. The plan includes construction of ghats and provision of lights and toilet facilities at ghats, among other things. Addressing a press conference here, AAP MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak said meticulous preparations have been made for Chhath Mahaparv and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced a 10-point plan. "First, excellent ghats will be constructed. Second, arrangements for tents will be made there. Third, there will be provision for lights as people come for Chhath Puja in the morning and at night. Fourth, toilet facilities will be provided at every ghat. "Fifth, arrangements for water are being made. Sixth, provisions for ambulances are being made so that there is no trouble in case of any medical emergency. Seventh, doctors will also be deputed," he said. As part of the plan, cultural programmes are being organised on people
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced a special train service between Puri and Patna fully expecting the surge of passenger interest during Chhath Puja
In other news, the sale of platform tickets at New Delhi and Anand Vihar railway stations has been suspended temporarily, in order to control the extra rush of passengers
In a bid to ease travel during the festival season, the Railways have pressed into service 1,700 special trains, making available 26 lakh additional berths. A Railways official said these additional services are being operated to ease the heavy rush of passengers on account of Diwali and Chhath Puja. "Approximately 26 lakh extra berths have been added for the convenience of passengers," the official said. He said these are extra berths in addition to those available on regular trains across the network. The demand for train reservations is so high that it is becoming difficult for the people planning to head home for the festivities to get a reserved berth.
The Ministry of Railway announced that the Indian Railway will run trips of 283 special trains during the Chhath Puja festival. The special trains aim to manage the movement of all the passengers
It further mentioned that the allocation of the budget has been made for the augmentation of street lighting on the approach road to Chhath Ghats
In a high-level review meeting held with all the district magistrates on Wednesday, she directed the officials to begin the preparation for the 'Chhath Puja' festival in advance
As many as 53 people drowned in rivers and other water bodies in various parts of Bihar during the four-day Chhath festivities, said a disaster management official here on Tuesday. Expressing grief, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of the kin of each deceased, the official said. The CM directed all district magistrates to ensure expeditious payment to the victims' families. According to the official, five people drowned in Purnea district on October 30, while three deaths each were reported from Patna, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur and Saharsa. One person each died in Gaya, Begusarai, Katihar, Buxar, Kaimur, Sitamarhi and Banka among other districts. "At least 18 people died in the state on October 31, the last day of the festival. The state disaster management is trying to establish the identity of all deceased at the earliest," added the official.
Highlighting the country's strides in science and technology, PM Modi in his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat said India is doing wonders in the solar and space sector
After two years of restrictions owing to Covid, thousands of devotees thronged ghats and makeshift ponds across the capital on Sunday to worship the Sun God as part of Chhath Puja celebrations. Devotees, especially women keeping the arduous 36-hour-long fast 'Nirjala Vrat', sang devotional and folk songs and offered 'arghya' to the Sun God while standing in knee deep water at ghats or makeshift ponds. Chhath puja is celebrated on the sixth day after Diwali and is also known as Surya Sashthi as it is dedicated to the Sun God. It is one of the most popular festivals in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. After two years of Covid-induced restrictions, Chhath Puja is being celebrated this year at public places on a large scale in Delhi. Sushma Singh, a devotee and resident of Indraprastha Colony here, said inflation has impacted people a lot but this is a sacred festival. "I have been doing Chhath for the last 20 years. Day by day, its popularity is increasing and more people are celebra
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said Chhath Puja is a unique example of mutual harmony between human beings and nature, and greeted citizens on the eve of the festival. Chhath Puja is an occasion when we express our reverence, affection and gratitude towards Mother Nature, the president said. Offering 'arghya' to the Sun god, devotees begin their day with a rigorous fast and worship the sun and rivers, she said. "The fast culminates in a holy bath in the water bodies and worshipping the nature. This festival is a unique example of mutual harmony between human beings and the nature," Murmu said in her message on the eve of Chhath Puja. On this year's Chhath Puja, may people's wishes get fulfilled, and everyone stays healthy and happy, she said. "Let us take this opportunity to pledge that we will make our water resources and environment pollution-free," the president was quoted as having said in a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. In the message, the president said,
In view of Chhath Puja, Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday inspected Bhalswa lake in the national capital
Ahead of the Nahai Khai of the Chhath, Delhi BJP President Aadesh Gupta visited the oldest Yamuna Chhath Ghat of Delhi called the ITO Yamuna Ghat for assessment of the arrangement on Thursday."This is the oldest Chhath Ghat of Delhi and there is no arrangement so far. It is the total accountability of the Delhi Government. Due to Covid pandemic, there were no Chhath celebrations on the bank of the Yamuna rive in the last two years and this year too, no arrangement has been made so far. So, due to mismangement, no Chhath celebrations be made this year too, "said Aadesh Gupta during the inspection.He further accused the Aam Aadmi Party of lying and said that their leaders are expert at spreading propaganda. During elections, their leaders become Hindu and before that, they make fun of the Hindu Gods and goddess."Meanwhile, Delhi Chhath Puja Samiti President Shiva Ram Pandey said that they have been working for Chhath Ghat for more than a month but are still unaware of the location."We ..
Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Vice Chairman Saurabh Bhardwaj on Thursday said it is "absolutely incorrect" to say that a "poisonous" chemical is being used to suppress the foam in the Yamuna, following the BJP's allegations over the issue. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari accused the Delhi government on Thursday of spraying a poisonous chemical to remove froth from the Yamuna ahead of Chhath Puja, during which devotees take a holy dip in the river. Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its allegations into the DJB's Yamuna-cleaning exercise, Bhardwaj said, "BJP leaders should learn something about science and technology. The DJB's anti-foaming chemical technology has also been recommended by the Centre's NMCG." The DJB had started preparations to reduce foaming in the Yamuna more than a month ago so that Chhath devotees could offer prayers to the Sun god, he said. "Later, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) also recommended similar steps as adopted by the DJB to contain foaming in the
Delhi Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot on Thursday directed district magistrates to share geo-locations of all Chhath sites to ensure transparency and smooth management. This year, the Delhi government is organising Chatth Puja at 1,100 sites in the national capital. During a meeting to review preparedness for the festival, the minister also directed officials to ensure devotees do not face any inconvenience and smooth management and organisation at all sites. To ensure transparency, Gahlot instructed the district magistrates (DMs) to share the list of new sites that are being added with local legislators. DMs were further instructed to share geo-locations of all sites compulsorily, according to a statement. The divisional commissioner has directed the DMs to share the list of the five sites which are expected to have the largest gathering. The DMs were advised to manage logistics in a manner that the Yamuna river bank is barricaded, and artificial ponds are created in a proper wa
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Thursday accused the Delhi government of infusing poisonous chemical to remove froth from the Yamuna ahead of Chhath Puja during which devotees take a holy dip in the river. West Delhi MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma also challenged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to take a dip in the Yamuna and alleged that the AAP chief's visit to Ghazipur landfill site was a ploy to divert attention from the issue of pollution in the river. Kejriwal visited the Ghazipur site Thursday and said the upcoming MCD polls will be fought on the garbage issue as he promised to clean Delhi in five years if his AAP wins the civic body election. "We visited the Yamuna to stock of the pollution situation there. We were surprised to find that a very poisonous chemical was being sprayed to hide the froth," the Northeast Delhi MP claimed. Last year, pictures and videos showing devotees offering prayers in the froth-filled Yamuna on Chhath Puja had triggered a political slugfest between the AA
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday hit the road to inspect ghats along the river Ganges in the state capital which will be teeming with crowds for the next few days as part of Chhath festivities. Kumar ditched the steamer ride that he had been undertaking, so far, as the septuagenarian was recovering from bruises he received recently when his steamer had crashed into a pillar. This was revealed by the longest-serving chief minister of the state himself when, at one point, some curious journalists inquired about what appeared as a departure from his annual drill. Just have a look at my wound, said the 71-year-old chief minister, otherwise known to be a stickler for privacy and reserve, as he pulled up his kurta to reveal a gash on his belly. The CM said he had also hurt his leg and his abdomen bruise has caused him to avoid taking the front seat in his car which would require him to wear the seat belt. Notably, the administration had claimed that all occupants of the ..
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has given his nod to hold Chhath Puja at designated ghats on the Yamuna and directed the officials to ensure basic amenities along with adequate security
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has given his nod to hold Chhath Puja at designated ghats on the Yamuna and urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to ensure clean ghats and water for devotees, sources in his office said on Wednesday. The sources said Saxena had also cautioned Kejriwal against "misleading and premature publicity" over the issue. A tweet by Kejriwal a few days ago had caused confusion with many people assuming that the puja could be performed anywhere along the Yamuna, the sources said. "The proposal to hold Chhath Puja approved by the Lieutenant Governor was specific to designated ghats on the Yamuna," a source said. Saxena has also directed the revenue and environment departments to ensure strict enforcement of the National Green Tribunal's orders on Yamuna pollution. The Delhi government's revenue department is the nodal agency for Chhath arrangements. It is working in close coordination with other government departments and civic agencies to make Chh